Saturday, February 9, 2013
Good Day Friends ~ I have decided to write a little about the 5K I participated in today.
Of the many challenges I have set for myself one was to try a 5K ~ something I NEVER imagined I’d do! Part of this journey to change my life was to change my fear of the unknown and not allow getting nervous or embarrassed to stop me from trying new things.
One of my awesome friends Dawn told me about the Atlanta Women’s 5K in March & I nervously made the commitment to do it & then I was invited by other friends, Katherine & Penny to do a 5K at our local park. This 5K was to benefit the Sam Robb Fund, a local young athlete that passed away from cancer. He would be just a few years older than my son & it just hit me to give it a try. I was nowhere ready, but I said, “What the hell”! I registered online, paid my fee, sent out donation requests to family, friends & clients then worried about doing this “run” since I NEVER run, not even when I’m on the treadmill. Everyone assured me I could walk the route so I said to myself, just do it & don’t worry so much! Yeah easy to say….
Last night I said I would get my things ready for the morning, I laid out the long workout pants (thank God my sister bought me these for Christmas – I normally wear 3/4 length pants/shorts), one of my normal workout tank tops, Otis’ sweatshirt that I found raiding his closet (i knew it would give me his spirit) & running shoes. I looked at what I’d assembled as I turned the lights out & said, really Cheryl and shook my head.
When the alarm went off I was like, really Cheryl it’s 6:15 Saturday morning and about 32 degrees outside (those that know me know I am NOT a morning person)! I finally got up after hitting the snooze a couple times and put on the clothes I had laid out the night before.
I headed downstairs, put on my running shoes, grabbed my Whey Chocolate Shake I made last night & headed to the park. I was nervous, thinking I didn’t want to embarrass myself & my friends ~ my brain was all over the place ~ like, you are such a baby, just do it, quit complaining, think of it as being with your friends doing something new ~ all these things were going thru my mind & before I knew it I was at the park. As I was getting out of the car I got a text from Penny asking if I was there yet ~ I think she probably thought I might chicken out (hahaha) 🙂
We met & walked to the registration desk together & I was watching all those around me in their professional looking running clothes & I was thinking what the hell am I doing here & then my “other” voice said, helping raise money for cancer & doing something out of your comfort zone. My “normal” voice wanted to slap my “other” voice!
Penny & I registered, got our goody bag & t-shirt that proves I really did attend (laughing in my mind) and waited for our other friends, Katherine & Amy to join us. Once we were all assembled Katherine asked one of the sweet high school volunteers to snap our “proof” picture (I should say “my” proof picture) & then we headed towards the starting line. I’m looking at all the people & thinking, wow, I’m really here. I then saw some good friends of our family, Tim & Rebecca and chatted with them for a bit and next thing I knew they were starting the race.
I ran a little, not far but I ran. No I didn’t do much, but I NEVER run so once I was winded I told Penny to go on since she was nowhere near being winded. She was so sweet, she was no, I am staying with you. We knew that Katherine & Amy were going to run as they were trying to beat their times, etc. When people were passing us I started to feel bad that I couldn’t do what they were doing, but Penny kept talking to me about various things in our lives and it kept me from going super negative on myself. I kept telling her to go on since I KNEW I was holding her back, but each time she kept saying no, she wasn’t going to leave me behind. A sweet friend if you ask me!
As we finished in 53 minutes which I know is not very good compared with our runner friends that did it in 30 minutes or less it made me proud of myself ~ not about the time it took me finish, but that I DID it. I got out of my comfort zone again & did something that I just don’t do & I raised over $600 for a good cause. Now I will start doing the Couch to 5K training so I can actually feel good about running part of the way.
Afterwards, our group went to breakfast & enjoyed great conversation & laughs and plans for the next thing we want to do, not just exercise wise, but fun too!
If anyone reads this that has wondered if they could do a 5K, go around the track one time, go down the block once ~ you CAN do it, it may not be easy or fun, but once you are done & think about it you can smile to yourself & say I DID it!!!
Not a Diet ~ A New Life 